Table 3.

Comparisons of different screening methods in plants

Methods	Special reagents	Equipments	Total time (D) /1000 samples	Cost/200 reaction	Labour	Injuries to plant
PCR amplification	DNA extarct kit	Thermal cycler	2	High	High	Leaf
Antibiotic/Herbicide selection	Autobiotics	–	≥ 2	Low	Moderate	Seed
Southern blot analysis	Southern blot hybridization kit	Hybridisation oven	≥ 7	High	High	Leaf
Gus expression assays	GUS dye	Microscopy	≥ 2	Moderate	Moderate	Leaf/Root
GFP	Fluorescein di-acetatea	Laser scanning confocal microscopy/green fluorescence pigment	≥ 0.5	Moderate	Moderate	Leaf/Root
Visual screening	No	Hand-held fluorescent flashlight, light filter	≤ 0.5	Zero	Low	No

^aIt has mostly been used in microorganisms